Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
God said, “Go and say to this people: ‘Listen intently, but don’t understand; look carefully, but don’t comprehend. Make the minds of this people dull. Make their ears deaf and their eyes blind…’” — Isaiah 6:9-10a What a weird passage. Young Isaiah has just accepted the call to be a prophet. And his message? Preach in …
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. — Matthew 9:36 Compassion, like love, is a word we use so often that we may forget how really powerful it is. It starts, of course, with feeling another person’s pain. After all, that’s the literal …
At about three Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you left me?”…Again Jesus cried out with a loud shout. Then he died. — Matthew 27:46, 50 I don’t know where it comes from, but there seems to be a prevailing attitude that doubting is bad. The corollary to …
Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:13-14 When I had shoulder replacement last December, it wasn’t a matter of calling up the surgeon and saying, …
You make grass grow for cattle; you make plants for human farming in order to get food from the ground, and wine, which cheers people’s hearts, along with oil, which makes the face shine, and bread, which sustains the human heart. — Psalm 104:14-15 My family looks forward to an annual tradition. Once a year …
Truth examines the heart and hears what is said. — Wisdom of Solomon 1:6* Conspiracy theories have always been popular. Religious authorities thought Jesus wanted to overthrow them. Political authorities have been quick to cast blame on perceived conspirators, such as what Hitler did with the Jews. In a contemporary context, conspiracy theories explain why …
In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes both heart and life than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to change their hearts and lives. — Luke 15:7 Today’s verse comes at the end of Jesus’ story about a shepherd leaving 99 …
Someone else said to Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say good-bye to those in my house.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for God’s kingdom.” — Luke 9:61-62 It’s inevitable if you live long enough. You look around at …
You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden…Let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven. — Matthew 5:14, 16 There’s a nature trail near our house. Walking it one day, I …
Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness. — Isaiah 43:19 On our trip to Scotland last fall, I saw a trend that was a bit shocking at first. It seemed that if you saw a big, old church somewhere, …